The Battle for Yamal
Lionel Messi – an idol; Kylian Mbappe – a rival. And you – the next Ballon d'Or. At least, that's how Lamine Yamal sees it.
In February 2024, after many lengthy negotiations, the jewel of Barcelona and Spanish football signed a contract with Adidas.
Negotiations began months earlier , when the La Masia academy talent – who made his first-team debut under Xavi Hernandez – was still tied to Nike.
To convince him, the German sports company lured him with a presentation that ended with a video of Leo Messi: “I want you to be part of our family” .
Nike tried to break that spell – a psychological blow from Adidas with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner – and counterattacked with their biggest star: Mbappe.
However, that did not convince Lamine. Not because Mbappe lacks class, but because of Yamal's personality: he does not see the French striker as a role model, but as a rival.
“Lamine Yamal sees Messi as an idol, and Mbappe as someone from the same generation,” a source from Adidas shared.
Mbappe victory
It's interesting what happened. It took Lamine Yamal less than a year to prove to the football world that he was right.
Mbappe is not an idol, but a rival. Nowadays, perhaps the biggest rival: facing off against two of Europe's strongest teams, and also in the media-rich Clasico between Barca and Real Madrid.
In that competition, Yamal was the clear winner : 7 out of 8 meetings.
“I like it when the fans put their hopes on me and the team. I enjoy it and believe that we can do great things. I am not afraid of pressure. I am not nervous,” Lamine affirmed.
In his first season as a professional, Yamal faced Mbappe twice in the Champions League quarter-finals. Barcelona surprisingly beat PSG 3-2 in Paris.
Then Luis Enrique's tactical masterstroke against Xavi at Montjuic, along with Ronald Araujo's red card, helped PSG win 4-1. That was Yamal's only defeat against Mbappe.
With the Spanish national team, the Catalan player won both encounters: the EURO 2024 semi-final (2-1) and the UEFA Nations League 2025 semi-final (5-4). Yamal scored 3 goals in these.
He also gave Mbappe a headache in the white shirt. In the 4 El Clasico matches last season, Barcelona beat Real Madrid (16-7 difference).
If Lamine had previously shown confidence in meetings with Adidas, he now did the same in the press room.
“As long as I win, no one can say anything to me. When I lose, then say it ,” Yamal said frankly.
Challenge Ronaldo
Lamine Yamal not only thinks about collective victory with Barca and the Spanish national team, but also has a clear personal goal: the Golden Ball.
“I always told my mother that I would do my best. That's what motivated me to play football, that's what made me wake up every morning,” Yamal confided.
In the race for the prestigious title of France Football and UEFA , his teammates like Pedri, Raphinha; or opponents in La Liga like Mbappe and Vinicius are all behind.
The biggest rival is probably the Champions League winner: Ousmane Dembele.
“He is a great player, but we got to the final. I like to show on the pitch, and that is what I did,” Yamal declared after Spain beat France 5-4 to reach the Nations League final, where they will face Cristiano Ronaldo 's Portugal.
This is the first time Lamine Yamal has faced Ronaldo, who is at his peak since playing for Portugal and is also the player with the most goals of all time - 937 goals.
“I have a lot of respect for Cristiano because he is a great player, with an extraordinary career ,” Yamal said before the final at Allianz Arena (2am, June 9).
When Ronaldo made his Sporting Lisbon debut on October 7, 2002, Lamine wasn't even born yet ( July 13, 2007).
This Sunday, Lamine Yamal competes with Ronaldo for the title; before facing Messi in the Finalissima next March.
Yamal wants to beat the icons, like the times he defeated Mbappe, and continue to nurture his dream of winning the Ballon d'Or.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bo-dao-nha-vs-tay-ban-nha-lamine-yamal-chong-lai-ronaldo-2409329.html
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